Longmorn 1967 Speyside Collection (43%, Gordon & MacPhail, Sherry Butt #4645, 2015)
- Category: Speyside single malt scotch whisky
- Origin: Longmorn distillery
- Bottling: Gordon & MacPhail, Speyside Collection
- ABV: 43%
What they say:
Speyside Collection
Leading whisky specialist Gordon & MacPhail has launched an exclusive Speyside Collection, offering customers the chance to purchase six exquisite single malt Scotch whiskies from some of Scotland’s finest Speyside distilleries.
Established in 1895, the fourth-generation family business is custodian to some of the world’s oldest and most unique single malt Scotch whiskies. Allowing whisky fans the chance to savour an inimitable piece of Scotland’s liquid history, the Speyside Collection brings together 329 years of knowledge, expertise and whisky maturation.
The first release, limited-edition, Speyside Collection hosts a range of flavour profiles, from the fruity and peppery notes of Gordon & MacPhail Smith’s Glenlivet 1948 43%, to the long and slightly smoky finish of the Glen Grant 1949 40%, and the exotic fruit, sherry and crushed almonds flavours in Strathisla 1953 43%.
Showcasing whiskies from across the region, the Speyside Collection also offers Gordon & MacPhail Mortlach 1954 43%, a spicy and creamy whisky, the award winning Longmorn 1967 43%, which is bursting with warming spiciness followed by stewed fruit and citrus flavours, and Linkwood 1972 43%, with its flavours of chilli spice, banana and dark chocolate.
Since the founding of the business, Gordon & MacPhail has sent casks to distilleries throughout Scotland to be filled with new make spirit, before being matured under the custodianship of generations of the Urquhart family.
Developing relationships with distilleries across Scotland throughout the company’s history, the whiskies in Gordon & MacPhail’s Speyside Collection are uniquely labelled using the original distillery labels.
Stephen Rankin, director and a member of the fourth generation of the Urquharts, the family who own Gordon & MacPhail, said: “Four generations of our family have passed on skills and knowledge for matching spirit to quality casks and maturing whiskies for many years.
“The six vintages in the Speyside Collection are testament to our philosophy of producing high quality single malt. We hope malt whisky lovers will be able to enjoy and savour these special Speyside drams.”
The Speyside Collection is available to purchase from specialist whisky retailers at an RRP of £10,500 in the UK. Prices in overseas markets may differ due to local taxes and import duties. A limited edition of 75 Speyside Collections will be available for sale in this first release.
What I say:
Distilled at Longmorn distillery on the 31st of October 1967 and bottled at an age of 47 on the 21st of September 2015. This expression was matured in a first fill Sherry butt #4645.
Many thanks to Tom of Toms Whisky Reviews for sparing a little of this whisky to share with us.
Colour:
Dark amber/russet gold (13/20) medium-sized tears and long medium-fine legs
Nose:
Milk chocolate, cocoa butter and shea butter, dried nuts, hazelnut, praline, hazelnut puree, gianduja, farmhouse butter, fruity, sherry/aged, leathery, spicy and sherry vinegar, raspberry, strawberry, redcurrant, plum, white pepper, vanilla, white chocolate, mixed berry cheesecake
Taste:
Sweet and dessert-like, Sauternes wine, honeyed poached pears, white chocolate and raspberry coulis, raspberry ripple ice-cream (or preferred raspberry and white chocolate baked cheesecake), mixed berries in syrup, citrus but sweet like lemon curd, ginger and orange marmalade, chocolate covered crystallized ginger, raspberry, strawberry, barley sugars, fresh and zesty lemon & lime juices sweetened with honey.
Finish:
Long, creamy citrus and berry cheesecake, white pepper spice, becomes drying with some oak wood tannins/pencil or wood shavings and spiced ginger and nutmeg.
Overall:
A superb Longmorn expression, perhaps a lot older than I am used to and it is a lot woodier for it. This has a beautiful fatty richness to it and is distinctly creamy and sweet throughout making it immensely pleasurable. A typical Longmorn, this oozes quality but is announced with a quiet whisper…
The Whiskyphiles 